Tweet
I’ve been noticing something interesting lately — a bunch of new crypto startups seem to be gaining traction, and a lot of them credit their success to crypto ads. Honestly, I used to think advertising in the crypto space was kind of pointless. Between ad bans, scams, and audience skepticism, I figured most people just tuned out. But the more I hang around in crypto forums and Telegram groups, the more I hear founders saying blockchain-focused advertising actually worked for them.
That got me thinking — how are these guys pulling it off?
The doubt I had about crypto ads
A couple of years ago, I tried running ads for a small blockchain project. The results were disappointing. Traffic came in, sure, but the engagement was low, conversions were nearly zero, and most of the budget disappeared faster than ETH during a gas spike. I wrote off crypto ads as a waste.
But recently, I’ve noticed that some top crypto startups are breaking that pattern. They’re not just throwing money at ads on random platforms — they’re being smart about where and how they advertise. The term “blockchain ads” kept coming up, which made me curious if this was something different from the usual PPC grind.
Trying to understand what changed
So, I dug a bit deeper and talked to a few people who had decent results. What I learned is that these startups didn’t treat crypto ads like traditional digital marketing. Instead of trying to run ads on mainstream platforms (which still have restrictions around crypto), they focused on crypto-specific ad networks and blockchain communities.
For example, one guy mentioned his startup gained a ton of quality leads from ads placed on niche crypto blogs, forums, and decentralized app dashboards — places where users already understood blockchain concepts. The audience there isn’t just random clickers; they’re crypto-curious people looking for their next investment or tool. That makes a massive difference.
It turns out, some of these ad networks allow targeting based on token interest, blockchain type, or project niche. That level of relevance means your ad isn’t fighting for attention against cat memes or dating apps — it’s showing up where it actually makes sense.
What I noticed when I tested it again
Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to give crypto ads another shot. This time, I used a smaller budget and focused entirely on blockchain-related platforms. I also stopped obsessing over clicks and focused more on what kind of users I was attracting.
The results were surprisingly better. Instead of a ton of random visitors, I got a handful of users who stuck around, asked questions, and joined the Telegram channel. It wasn’t huge traffic, but it was the right kind — people genuinely interested in what we were building.
That’s when it clicked: crypto ads aren’t about going viral; they’re about finding the right corner of the internet where your project actually fits.
The insight that changed my mind
One key takeaway for me was that successful crypto advertising isn’t just about the ad copy — it’s about context. If your ad shows up in a place where users already understand blockchain concepts, your chances of engagement shoot up.
That’s what a lot of these top crypto startups seem to be doing right. They’re not trying to compete with mainstream tech brands for attention; they’re speaking directly to crypto-native audiences. There’s a good write-up I came across that breaks down how some of these projects managed to pull this off. It’s worth a read if you’re curious about how crypto startups succeed using blockchain ads — it gave me a better sense of how the strategy works behind the scenes.
So, are crypto ads worth it?
In my opinion — yes, if you do them right. Going broad or targeting the wrong audience will burn your budget fast. But if you find ad networks or communities that cater to crypto and Web3 users, it can be a game-changer.
Just remember, crypto audiences are smart and skeptical. Don’t oversell or make wild promises. Keep your message authentic, transparent, and educational. People in the blockchain space respect that more than flashy marketing.
If you’re thinking of running crypto ads for your project, I’d say start small, test different placements, and track user behavior instead of just impressions. Look at where your conversions actually come from — you’ll probably find that the best traffic isn’t from Google or Facebook, but from platforms your average crypto enthusiast already trusts.
At the end of the day, the key lesson I learned (and keep hearing from others) is this: crypto ads can absolutely work, but only when you speak the same language as your audience and meet them where they already are.
That got me thinking — how are these guys pulling it off?
The doubt I had about crypto ads
A couple of years ago, I tried running ads for a small blockchain project. The results were disappointing. Traffic came in, sure, but the engagement was low, conversions were nearly zero, and most of the budget disappeared faster than ETH during a gas spike. I wrote off crypto ads as a waste.
But recently, I’ve noticed that some top crypto startups are breaking that pattern. They’re not just throwing money at ads on random platforms — they’re being smart about where and how they advertise. The term “blockchain ads” kept coming up, which made me curious if this was something different from the usual PPC grind.
Trying to understand what changed
So, I dug a bit deeper and talked to a few people who had decent results. What I learned is that these startups didn’t treat crypto ads like traditional digital marketing. Instead of trying to run ads on mainstream platforms (which still have restrictions around crypto), they focused on crypto-specific ad networks and blockchain communities.
For example, one guy mentioned his startup gained a ton of quality leads from ads placed on niche crypto blogs, forums, and decentralized app dashboards — places where users already understood blockchain concepts. The audience there isn’t just random clickers; they’re crypto-curious people looking for their next investment or tool. That makes a massive difference.
It turns out, some of these ad networks allow targeting based on token interest, blockchain type, or project niche. That level of relevance means your ad isn’t fighting for attention against cat memes or dating apps — it’s showing up where it actually makes sense.
What I noticed when I tested it again
Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to give crypto ads another shot. This time, I used a smaller budget and focused entirely on blockchain-related platforms. I also stopped obsessing over clicks and focused more on what kind of users I was attracting.
The results were surprisingly better. Instead of a ton of random visitors, I got a handful of users who stuck around, asked questions, and joined the Telegram channel. It wasn’t huge traffic, but it was the right kind — people genuinely interested in what we were building.
That’s when it clicked: crypto ads aren’t about going viral; they’re about finding the right corner of the internet where your project actually fits.
The insight that changed my mind
One key takeaway for me was that successful crypto advertising isn’t just about the ad copy — it’s about context. If your ad shows up in a place where users already understand blockchain concepts, your chances of engagement shoot up.
That’s what a lot of these top crypto startups seem to be doing right. They’re not trying to compete with mainstream tech brands for attention; they’re speaking directly to crypto-native audiences. There’s a good write-up I came across that breaks down how some of these projects managed to pull this off. It’s worth a read if you’re curious about how crypto startups succeed using blockchain ads — it gave me a better sense of how the strategy works behind the scenes.
So, are crypto ads worth it?
In my opinion — yes, if you do them right. Going broad or targeting the wrong audience will burn your budget fast. But if you find ad networks or communities that cater to crypto and Web3 users, it can be a game-changer.
Just remember, crypto audiences are smart and skeptical. Don’t oversell or make wild promises. Keep your message authentic, transparent, and educational. People in the blockchain space respect that more than flashy marketing.
If you’re thinking of running crypto ads for your project, I’d say start small, test different placements, and track user behavior instead of just impressions. Look at where your conversions actually come from — you’ll probably find that the best traffic isn’t from Google or Facebook, but from platforms your average crypto enthusiast already trusts.
At the end of the day, the key lesson I learned (and keep hearing from others) is this: crypto ads can absolutely work, but only when you speak the same language as your audience and meet them where they already are.
